Contamination levels and dietary exposure risk assessment of indicator polychlorinated biphenyls in pork in some regions of China

Abstract

ObjectiveTo investigate the contamination levels of indicator polychlorinated biphenyls （PCBs） in pork in China and the dietary exposure and risks of Chinese residents.MethodsThe concentration of seven indicator PCBs （PCB 28， PCB 52， PCB 101， PCB 118， PCB 138， PCB 153， and PCB 180） in 203 pork samples from 13 provinces （autonomous regions， centrally administered municipality） in China in 2020 as monitoring sites were analyzed by combined isotope dilution-gas chromatography-high resolution mass spectrometry. The health risk of the population exposure of indicator PCBs through pork was assessed in conjunction with date on pork consumption in each province.ResultsThe mean concentrations of the seven indicator PCBs （∑7PCBs） in pork ranged from 0.053 （Guangxi） to 0.826 ng/g fat （Zhejiang）， and P95 concentrations ranged from 0.091 （Guangxi） to 2.702 ng/g fat （Zhejiang）. PCB 28 and PCB 52 were the main fingerprint features. The mean and P95 levels of ∑7PCBs ingested daily by Chinese residents through pork consumption were 0.062±0.076 （ng/kg·BW） and 0.158±0.207 （ng/kg·BW）， respectively， and the exposure risk index （ERI） was less than 1.ConclusionThe contamination level of ∑7PCBs in pork in China， as well as the health risk of residents exposed to indicator PCBs through a pork diet was low.

Keywords

• pork
• indicator polychlorinated biphenyls
• dietary exposure
• risk assessment
• food contamination
• food safety